There is so much going on in May that would be fun to write about (Pentecost, Trinity, Consecration, Senior Sunday, tulips, peepers) that I feel bad that, after much deliberation, I have decided to write about a critical issue for Trinity Church. I call this piece “I don’t want to talk about money!” A few weeks ago, I invited members to discuss in our critical question forum (which invites members to simply share what they are thinking and feeling without debate) the question “Can the church survive the economics of the 21st century?” To my amazement, we had the shortest coffee hour on record, and everyone was gone before I came upstairs. There may have been many reasons for this quick evacuation, but it made me think how difficult it is for us to talk about money.
The budget is never far from the Vestry’s thoughts, so last February, at the Vestry Retreat, we looked at patterns of feelings and behaviors of communities struggling with finances (we are certainly not alone in this). Let me share with you some of what we discussed as a circular pattern.
1. Knowing the area’s economic difficulties, the number of folks whose incomes are tied to Social Security (not a fixed income really), and those carrying heavy financial loads, the Vestry is hesitant to ask for money and perhaps is ambivalent at best when it comes to pledges.
2. Members, not hearing a strong contributing message, lack of urgency around the budget, and fearing for their own finances, contribute less than the budgetary needs of the parish.
3. As the year progresses and our deficit grows, so grows the anxiety level of the Vestry, Treasurer, Finance and Stewardship Committees. Since there is no simple solution, the rhetoric becomes more anxious, frequent, and sometimes inappropriate.
4. Members, feeling this anxiety with few suggestions and again a lack of a clear need, become uncomfortable and even annoyed at the continual requests for money, and they let the leadership know!
5. The leadership responds naturally by a greater hesitancy to talk about money because it angers folks.
6-1. Come the beginning of the year, the Vestry is hesitant to talk about or ask for money. The cycle is complete and self-perpetuating.
Pastorally, this is an unfair burden that the community asks Trinity’s leadership to bear, anxiety is produced when there is no clear resolution of a serious problem, and this anxiety is toxic to the well-being of the community. We need to break this cycle.
Theologically, this cycle expresses a theology of scarcity; that is, God has only given us limited resources to live out the ministries He has called each of us into. This denies Jesus’ promise that all we need do is ask and it shall be given; it ignores Jesus’ teaching about God’s abundance; it proclaims that God is limited by our limits. This is not our theology. We believe in the abundance of God! A God who turns gallons of water into wine; who is living water gushing out into the dessert; who feeds the thousands on a few loaves and fishes; who conquers the greatest inevitability — Death — by the Resurrection of Jesus.
Practically speaking, the results of our behavior will be shrinking of leadership, muting of conversation and fellowship, increased toxic behavior, and ironically, a ministry focused on what we don’t want to talk about — money.
What should happen? First, we need to talk about what we believe. Old Testament prophets were always asking people to make choices, to choose life. I invite you to examine your own theology, put away from you a belief in God’s limits, and choose a God who has chosen you! You have been baptized into the ministry of the Church, called by God into that ministry, empowered by God through the Holy Spirit to live into that ministry! Choose to believe in a God that stands with us, empowering us with his abundant Grace. Believe that we can never imagine the fullness of God’s abundance. Pray that we are given the wisdom and courage to be the hands and heart of our limitless God!
Now fortified and armed with the Grace of God, let us talk, share and experience each other’s sharing of gifts, drawing our attention to ways we might move from a parish with limited resources to one known for God’s ministry. We begin by talking about the challenges given to us by our budget. Everyone should know that for years we have operated on a deficit budget, covering financial shortfalls by tapping endowments (money given by previous generations for the work of the church). We have used up almost all of our endowments and now are beginning to tap our largest endowment. In 2005, our deficit was almost $32,000; in 2006, almost $37,000; in 2007, it was $28,000; in 2008, our deficit is estimated to be about $59,000.
These numbers are unbelievable; yet they are taken from our annual report which we all receive. It will take a moment to get through the shock of these figures, but then we must get to work. God is with us, so we cannot fail. The creativity and gifts given to this community indeed reflect God’s abundance. Let us set a goal for ourselves that we will work toward a balanced budget within the next five years. That during that time we will not hesitate to engage in ministry; indeed, we must continue to grow in ministries in the area God calls us. And that we shoulder the responsibility for the ministry of Trinity without expectation that new members will rescue us, so that they may grow into ministers of the community and not debt mules.
Yes, this is a lot to ask of each of us, but God has heard it first, and I am confident in God’s promise. So read, digest, pray, and talk. Let’s figure this out together.
— Father David
PENTECOST SUNDAY, MAY 11
Pentecost is a major feast day celebration
for the church. Please plan to
come, bring a friend, and wear red
as a symbol of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit.
CHURCH SCHOOL ENDS MAY 18
The last Church School class will be
held May 11th, but we
will celebrate our fantastic
teachers and students during our
special Trinity Sunday Service on
the 18th. We hope
everyone will be in attendance to
thank God for the wonderful ministry
of our teachers and youth.
EPISCOPAL PEACE FELLOWSHIP (EPF)
The Peace Fellowship has had an active ministry in the life of the church, providing opportunities for members to work for peace and ministries that lead to peace. For more than thirty years, Fr. David has been a member. The Diocese of Maine has a very active chapter, but most meetings take place up north. A southern branch of the Maine chapter is being organized. If you would like to find out more about EPF or to join the work of this important ministry, you are invited to an organizational meeting at St. David’s, Kennebunk, on May 17th at 10 a.m.
Do you know what a blog is? Ask
your children; they all know. A
blog is an open conversation on the
Internet. A person posts a
statement, part of a journal, or
simply an opinion and invites others
to make comments. Blogs are usually
not meant to be factual statements
but rather opinions and feelings.
Starting this month, Fr. David will
run a blog about all aspects of
one’s faith journey. You are
invited to add comments, ask
questions, and share personal
insights. To reach the blog, go
online to our webpage,
trinitysaco.org, and look for the
link to the blog. This is an
experiment in reaching out in new
and techno ways.
NOTE:
BLOG information has not been
provided to the webmaster as of this
update (5/4/08).
MINISTERS IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
PART III: PRIESTS
The word “priest” is the traditional translation of the Greek word presbyteros. The term “priest” is used more frequently in the Episcopal Church than “presbyter,” though we see the word “presbyter” in the form of the prayers of the people that we have been using during this Easter season. One of the four orders of ministry in the Episcopal Church, the ministry of a priest is “to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a pastor to the people; to share with the bishop in the overseeing of the church; to proclaim the Gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and declare pardon in the name of God” (BCP p. 856). This means that the priest is authorized to be the celebrant at the Eucharist, to baptize when the bishop is not present, and to pronounce absolution of sins to the penitent. The priest is also trained in pastoral care and the conduct of public worship and is authorized to preach; because of the nature of this office, most priests are rectors of parishes. Other priests exercise their vocation in settings other than the parish. Some are chaplains; others find their ministry in activities not supported financially by the church (for example, as pastoral counselors or teachers). These are called nonstipendiary priests. The sign of the priestly office is the stole, worn around the neck allowing the ends to hang straight down the front of the priest’s body (as opposed to the deacon’s manner of wearing the stole across the left shoulder and tied under the right arm). Priests may wear the chasuble (the vestment Fr. David wears that looks kind of like a poncho) while celebrating the Eucharist. The role of the priest is to enable the people of God to be what they are called to be. By calling us all together around the Eucharist and celebrating at the altar, the priest enables the people, the members of Christ’s body, to discover and live out their ministries. At the ordination of a priest, the bishop addresses the about-to-be-ordained priest with these words: “You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor.....In all that you do, you are to nourish Christ’s people from the riches of his grace, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come” (BCP p. 531). What a truly awesome role the priest has! The title of the priest in writing is “The Reverend” or “The Rev.,” not “Rev.” A man who is a priest may be addressed verbally as “Father,” and a woman who is a priest may be verbally addressed as “Mother,” though some may not use these titles. It is okay to ask a priest how he/she would like to be addressed verbally.*
*Taken in part from A New Dictionary for Episcopalians, by The Rev. John N. Wall, Sr.
— submitted by Gail Chandler
May 3 10 a.m., Consecration of Stephan Lane, Bishop Coadjutor for Diocese of Maine, St. Luke’s Cathedral
May 4 Senior Sunday, Parish Breakfast,
U.T.O.,
11:15 a.m., Stewardship Cmte. meeting
May 11 Pentecost Sunday — please wear red!
May 17 10 a.m., Episcopal Peace Fellowship, St. David’s — all are welcome!
7 p.m., Evening Light Service
May 18 9 a.m., Trinity Church Celebrates Trinity Sunday - Parish Picture and Brunch
May 21 7 p.m., Welcome Committee Meeting
May 28 7 p.m., Prayer & Healing Team Meeting
THREE INTERWOVEN CIRCLES —
Each circle in this symbol represents one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The circles, having no beginning and no end, signify the Trinity’s eternal nature. The circles’ interlacing symbolizes unity. In the center is a triangle, an ancient symbol of the Trinity.
TRINITY CHURCH CELEBRATES TRINITY SUNDAY
Trinity Sunday is our name day, so, as should be expected, we plan to do the day up right.
· First, the Vestry has given us permission to combine our two services into one at 9:00 a.m.
· Second, the church will be decorated with flowers and a new banner.
· Third, the youth have been asked to share in our celebration by taking on various ministries during the service, including a special hymn.
· Fourth, those present will be invited to participate in becoming a prayer partner where we will pray for each other.
· Fifth, we will have flowers to send to our parish shutins who could not be with us.
· Sixth, there will be a special BRUNCH in the Parish Hall at 10:30. Everyone is asked to bring a brunch-type dish that is in the shape of the Trinity, or is made up of three ingredients, or in some way represents the Trinity. [Fr. David goes for a pastry shell (1) filled with custard (2) and covered with chocolate (3) — Yum!] The parish hall will be decorated with balloons.
· Finally — we ask that everyone make a special effort to be present because, following the service, Shawn Ouellette has agreed to take a group parish photo of us. We hope to hang the photo in the Parish Hall and to make an annual tradition of a Trinity Sunday photo.
We are still looking for ways to make this celebration very special. If you have ideas, please share them with Lorraine Tait and be willing to put your idea into action.
Reginald Heber (1783-1826), a vicar and hymn-writer in England, was the first person to compile a hymnal based around the church calendar. He composed the beloved hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” specifically for Trinity Sunday, with lyrics based on Revelation 4:8-11.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
The joyful song celebrates the eternal, omnipotent Triune God. Throughout the verses, Heber used units of three to symbolize the Trinity (God is “perfect in power, in love and purity”; God is worshiped by saints, cherubim and seraphim and praised “in earth and sky and sea”).
Heber, who witnessed much idol worship while serving as Bishop of Calcutta, often reaffirmed God’s holiness in his hymns.
British poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson so admired the uplifting language in “Holy, Holy, Holy” that he proclaimed it the finest hymn ever written.
Everyone loves pumpkins. BUT have you ever tried to grow a GIANT one? As a member of the Maine Pumpkin Growers Organization, I have several packets of seeds, donated by MePGO members, to give away to anybody who would like to put their green thumb to the test.
These seeds come from giant pumpkins grown right here in Maine — the ones you see at the Cumberland Fair, some over 1,000 pounds!
Just send me an email or give me a call or visit the MePGO website at http://mainepumpkins.com.
— Chuck Foss, 282-6509,
chuckfoss@yahoo.com
I know you all have been thanked more than once for helping on the Turkey Supper in one capacity or another, but I just want to thank our two youngest waitresses, Ali and Taylor Ouellette. Good job, girls! Our Turkey Supper workers range in age from eight to eighty-plus! Also, heartfelt thanks to one of our parishioners for the delicious homemade dinner rolls. Thank you all again.
— submitted by Arlene Murchison
“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” — Mark Twain
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before beginning to improve the world.” — Anne Frank
E.C.W. (EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN)
On April 7, at the 7th meeting of the 2007-8 season, 15 women enjoyed refreshments made by Mary Jane Russo and Paula Flanagan. Our guest, Dr. Greg Leach, spoke about “Women and Heart Disease.”
Join us for our next meeting, Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. Our speaker, Barbara Couch, will again work her magic as she makes beautiful flower arrangements and gives tips on floral arrangements and horticulture.
The Trinity Prayer Circle is taking prayer requests. Contact Coordinator Robyn Foss at 282-6509 or e-mail her at rffoss@maine.rr. com. Your prayer needs to be lifted up daily by our volunteers. All calls and e-mails are confidential. Please note that the Prayer Circle is separate from the Sunday Bulletin prayer list. Bulletin requests go to the church office; Circle requests go to Robyn. Names stay on the Circle List for two weeks and can be renewed.
Have you put someone on the Prayer Circle list? If you wish, Robyn will send that person a laminated, business-size card saying they are being remembered in prayer. The card is decorated with flowers and includes a Bible verse. Please contact Robyn.
SUMMER FAIR, SATURDAY, JULY 19
Don’t forget the Fair and the tables available for your treasures, those treasures that someone else will want! Books, boutique, children’s table, baskets, flea market, and THE AUCTION! Remember the good smells from the grill and hot dog steamer, make your favorite recipe for the Cookie Walk, and don’t forget the strawberries and ice cream! For questions or to volunteer, contact:
Allison Sovetsky, 571-9857, asovetsky@maine.rr.com
Rab St. Germaine, 286-0520, stgerv@gwi.net
One Memorial Day, some children were asked what the holiday meant to them. “That’s when the swimming pool opens!” answered one eager boy. What he didn’t realize or appreciate was that he can freely go to the pool because more than a million people have put their lives on the line to preserve America’s democracy. Many died so citizens of other countries might also enjoy the privileges of political, social and economic freedom.
Memorial Day is our chance to pause and remember the sacrifices of many of America’s best citizens. They made the supreme sacrifice for us, so please remember to honor these heroes on May 26.
Forty days after each Easter, many Christians around the world celebrate the Ascension, when the resurrected Jesus was raised up from the earth into heaven. The Ascension is the prelude to Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon a gathering of people, including the apostles, in Jerusalem.
The Ascension is important. In his human body, Christ could be in only one place at a time. The risen Christ can be spiritually present in any place at any time.
Dear Lord, thank you for the blessings of my children. Help me rely on you for guidance, patience and even-temperedness throughout my days.
I want my children to love, worship and serve you as best they can. Give me the wisdom to know how to influence them to live godly lives.
Fill our household with abiding love and respect, and help us all be united in purpose to do your will. In the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Marc Cardullo is handling Trinity’s publicity. We have signed up for a Press Release Service to get our message out to all types of media outlets. This includes Turkey Suppers, Evening Light Services, Fairs, Parish Breakfasts, meetings, and anything else the church may have scheduled. Remember that this service is available, and submissions should be directed to Marc.
There is a
Flower Chart in
the Anteroom going into the Church. If
anyone wishes to remember a loved one
and would like special flowers placed on
the High Altar on a certain date, please
write your name on the Flower Chart on
the date you have chosen. Please
contact Barbara Couch for further
information.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH INVITES YOU TO
AN INTIMATE EVENING SERVICE
FILLED WITH MUSIC AND LIGHT!
EVENING LIGHT
SATURDAY, May 17, 2008,
AT 7:00 P.M.
ALL ARE INVITED TO THIS SPECIAL
CELEBRATION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST.
OUR EVENING LIGHT WORSHIP SERVICE FEATURES CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND SONG IN AN INTIMATE AND INFORMAL ATMOSPHERE.
PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE
THE GLORY OF GOD WITH A JOYFUL NOISE!
WHAT
IS THE MILE OF PENNIES PROGRAM?
WHAT IS A SERENDIPITY JAR?
The “Mile of Pennies” program was established to provide funds for special and/or unbudgeted expenses or purchases. The late Peggie Rosa, one of Trinity’s most loyal and dedicated parishioners, was the source of this idea. The large jar in the church lobby is always ready to receive your contributions (pennies or greater).
The “Serendipity Jar” was created in support of the Mile of Pennies. Please keep one at home and recognize any serendipitous event with a contribution...plus loose change, excess pennies, bottle or can refunds...or for no other reason than to help your Church. We will provide jars as long as you keep taking them! Please take one home, if you haven’t already done so.
As a gentle reminder, the last Sunday of each month has been designated Serendipity Sunday (this month it’s November 25), when the accumulation (we hope!) of the past weeks can be deposited at one time.
A mile of pennies is 84,480 pennies or $844.80! Since the program began, we have raised many miles of pennies. The money is carefully spent on necessities for which funding is otherwise unavailable. Past purchases include the air conditioners, refrigerator, and a contribution toward the stove.
To our regular contributors - grateful thanks!!
To potential contributors - a warm welcome!!
Thank you for your continued generous support of the Saco Food Pantry, which serves more than 500 people monthly. During the summer when school is out, the children are not getting school breakfasts or lunches. Please keep this in mind when you go the supermarket and add some extra items to your cart for those less fortunate. Some foods especially useful for families are peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, tuna fish, spaghetti sauce and elbow macaroni in 15 oz., 1 lb., or 6 oz. sizes, which are most convenient for families. The following are also particularly appreciated:
Suggested items:
| canned fruit | tuna | pudding mixes | hash | macroni & cheese | mayonaise | saltines | toilet tissue |
| peanut butter | beef stew | spam | coffee/tea | juices | hot chocolate | laundry soap | kleenes |
| soups | jell-O | spaghetti sauce | shampoo | pie crust | bar soap | muffin mixes |
Leave donations in the wicker basket near the front door of the church, and they will be delivered to the Food Pantry. Any donation will help and is very much appreciated. Thank you!
“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.”
— Mother Teresa
As you think about spring, thoughts of those closets stuffed with stuff spring to mind! Add the following: “Oh, yes, we need to save some of those things for the Trinity Summer Fair in July!” MORE LATER!
It might seem a little early to start planning for Trinity Sunday on May 18th, but, since this is our name day, we want to plan something extra-special. Please be thinking of ways we might celebrate our name day and share them with Lorraine Tait.
| Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger |
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